14.

2  Limits and Continuity in Higher Dimensions 809

Whenever it is correctly defined, the composite of continuous functions is also con-

tinuous. The only requirement is that each function be continuous where it is applied. The
proof, omitted here, is similar to that for functions of a single variable (Theorem 9 in Sec-
tion 2.5).

Continuity of Composites
If ƒ is continuous at (x0 , y0) and g is a single-variable function continuous at
ƒ(x0 , y0), then the composite function h = g ∘ f defined by h(x, y) = g(ƒ(x, y))
is continuous at (x0, y0).

For example, the composite functions

xy
ex - y, cos 2 , ln ( 1 + x2y2 )
x + 1
are continuous at every point (x, y).

Functions of More Than Two Variables

The definitions of limit and continuity for functions of two variables and the conclusions
about limits and continuity for sums, products, quotients, powers, and composites all
extend to functions of three or more variables. Functions like
y sin z
ln (x + y + z) and
x - 1
are continuous throughout their domains, and limits like
ex + z e1 - 1 1
lim = = ,
P S (1,0,-1) 2
z + cos 2xy (-1) + cos 0 2
2

where P denotes the point (x, y, z), may be found by direct substitution.

Extreme Values of Continuous Functions on Closed, Bounded Sets

The Extreme Value Theorem (Theorem 1, Section 4.1) states that a function of a single
variable that is continuous throughout a closed, bounded interval 3 a, b4 takes on an abso-
lute maximum value and an absolute minimum value at least once in 3 a, b4 . The same
holds true of a function z = ƒ(x, y) that is continuous on a closed, bounded set R in the
plane (like a line segment, a disk, or a filled-in triangle). The function takes on an absolute
maximum value at some point in R and an absolute minimum value at some point in R.
The function may take on a maximum or minimum value more than once over R.
Similar results hold for functions of three or more variables. A continuous function
w = ƒ(x, y, z), for example, must take on absolute maximum and minimum values on any
closed, bounded set (solid ball or cube, spherical shell, rectangular solid) on which it is
defined. We will learn how to find these extreme values in Section 14.7.

Exercises  14.2
Limits with Two Variables 1 1 2
Find the limits in Exercises 1–12. 3. lim 2x2 + y2 - 1 4. lim ax + yb
(x, y) S (3,4) (x, y) S (2, -3)
3x2 - y2 + 5 x
1. lim 2. lim x 2 + y3
(x, y) S (0,0) x 2 + y2 + 2 (x, y) S (0,4) 2y 5. lim sec x tan y 6. lim cos
(x, y) S (0,p>4) (x, y) S (0,0) x + y + 1

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 810 Chapter 14: Partial Derivatives

7. lim ex - y 8. lim ln 0 1 + x2 y2 0 Continuity for Three Variables

(x, y) S (0,ln 2) (x, y) S (1,1)
At what points (x, y, z) in space are the functions in Exercises 35–40
ey sin x 3 continuous?
9. lim x 10. lim cos 2 xy
(x, y) S (0,0) (x, y) S (1>27, p3) 35. a.  ƒ(x, y, z) = x2 + y2 - 2z2
x sin y cos y + 1 b. ƒ(x, y, z) = 2x2 + y2 - 1
11. lim 12. lim
(x, y) S (1, p>6) x2 + 1 (x, y) S (p>2,0) y - sin x 36. a.  ƒ(x, y, z) = ln xyz b. ƒ(x, y, z) = ex + y cos z

Limits of Quotients 1 1
37. a.  h(x, y, z) = xy sin z b. h(x, y, z) =
Find the limits in Exercises 13–24 by rewriting the fractions first. x 2 + z2 - 1

x2 - 2xy + y2 x 2 - y2 1 1
38. a.  h(x, y, z) = b. h(x, y, z) =
13. lim
S
(x, y) (1,1) x - y 14. lim
(x, y) (1,1) x - y
S
0y0 + 0z0 0 xy 0 + 0 z 0
x≠y x≠y
39. a.  h(x, y, z) = ln ( z - x2 - y2 - 1 )
xy - y - 2x + 2 1
15. lim b. h(x, y, z) =
S
(x, y) (1,1) x - 1 z - 2x2 + y2
x≠1

y + 4 40. a.  h(x, y, z) = 24 - x2 - y2 - z2

16. lim 2 2 1
x≠-4, x≠x2 x y - xy + 4x - 4x
S
(x, y) (2, -4)
b. h(x, y, z) =
4 - 2x + y2 + z2 - 9
2

x - y + 2 2x - 2 2y
17. lim No Limit Exists at the Origin
(x, y) S (0,0) 2x - 2y
x≠y By considering different paths of approach, show that the functions in
x + y - 4 22x - y - 2 Exercises 41–48 have no limit as (x, y) S (0, 0).
18. lim 19. lim x x4
S
(x, y) (2,2) 2x + y - 2 (x, y) (2,0) 2x - y - 4
S
x + y≠4 41. ƒ(x, y) = - 42. ƒ(x, y) =
2x - y≠4
2x2 + y2 x + y2
4

2x - 2y + 1 z z
20. lim
(x, y) S (4,3) x - y - 1
x≠y + 1

sin ( x2 + y2 ) 1 - cos (xy)

21. lim 22. lim xy
(x, y) S (0,0) x 2 + y2 (x, y) S (0,0)
x
x 3 + y3 x - y x
23. lim 24. lim y y
(x, y) S (1,-1) x + y (x, y) S (2,2) x 4 - y4
4 2
x - y xy
43. ƒ(x, y) = 44. ƒ(x, y) =
Limits with Three Variables x 4 + y2 0 xy 0
Find the limits in Exercises 25–30.
x - y x2 - y
1 1 1 2xy + yz 45. g(x, y) = 46. g(x, y) = x - y
25. lim ax + y + zb 26. lim x + y
P S (1,3,4) P S (1,-1,-1) x 2 + z2
x2 + y x 2y
27. lim (sin2 x + cos2 y + sec2 z) 47. h(x, y) = y 48. h(x, y) =
P S (p,p,0) x + y2
4

28. lim tan-1 xyz 29. lim ze-2y cos 2x

P S (-1>4,p>2,2) P S (p,0,3) Theory and Examples
In Exercises 49 and 50, show that the limits do not exist.
30. lim ln 2x2 + y2 + z2
P S (2, -3,6) xy2 - 1 xy + 1
49. lim 50. lim
(x, y) S (1,1) y - 1 (x, y) S (1, -1) x 2 - y2
Continuity for Two Variables
At what points (x, y) in the plane are the functions in Exercises 31–34 1, y Ú x4
continuous? 51. Let ƒ(x, y) = c 1, y … 0
31. a.  ƒ(x, y) = sin (x + y) b. ƒ(x, y) = ln ( x2 + y2 ) 0, otherwise.
x + y y Find each of the following limits, or explain that the limit does
32. a.  ƒ(x, y) = x - y b. ƒ(x, y) = 2
x + 1 not exist.
a. lim ƒ(x, y)
1 x + y (x, y) S (0,1)
33. a.  g(x, y) = sin xy b. g(x, y) =
2 + cos x b. lim ƒ(x, y)
(x, y) S (2,3)
2 2
x + y 1 c. lim ƒ(x, y)
34. a.  g(x, y) = b. g(x, y) = (x, y) S (0,0)
x2 - 3x + 2 x2 - y

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 14.2  Limits and Continuity in Higher Dimensions 811

x2, x Ú 0 59. (Continuation of Example 5.)

52. Let ƒ(x, y) = e .
x3, x 6 0 a. Reread Example 5. Then substitute m = tan u into the formula
Find the following limits. 2m
ƒ(x, y) ` =
a. lim ƒ(x, y) y = mx 1 + m2
(x, y) S (3, -2)

b. lim ƒ(x, y) and simplify the result to show how the value of ƒ varies with
(x, y) S (-2, 1) the line’s angle of inclination.
c. lim ƒ(x, y) b. Use the formula you obtained in part (a) to show that the limit
(x, y) S (0,0)
of ƒ as (x, y) S (0, 0) along the line y = mx varies from - 1
53. Show that the function in Example 6 has limit 0 along every to 1 depending on the angle of approach.
straight line approaching (0, 0).
60. Continuous extension  Define ƒ(0, 0) in a way that extends
54. If ƒ(x0 , y0) = 3, what can you say about
x 2 - y2
lim ƒ(x, y) ƒ(x, y) = xy
(x, y) S (x0, y0) x 2 + y2

if ƒ is continuous at (x0, y0)? If ƒ is not continuous at (x0, y0)? to be continuous at the origin.
Give reasons for your answers.
The Sandwich Theorem for functions of two variables states that if Changing Variables to Polar Coordinates 
g(x, y) … ƒ(x, y) … h(x, y) for all (x, y) ≠ (x0 , y0) in a disk centered If you cannot make any headway with lim(x, y) S (0,0) ƒ(x, y) in rectan-
at (x0, y0) and if g and h have the same finite limit L as (x, y) S (x0 , y0), gular coordinates, try changing to polar coordinates. Substitute
then x = r cos u, y = r sin u, and investigate the limit of the resulting
expression as r S 0. In other words, try to decide whether there exists
lim ƒ(x, y) = L. a number L satisfying the following criterion:
(x, y) S (x0, y0)
Given P 7 0, there exists a d 7 0 such that for all r and u,
Use this result to support your answers to the questions in Exercises 0r0 6 d 1 0 ƒ(r, u) - L 0 6 P.(1)
55–58.
If such an L exists, then
55. Does knowing that
lim ƒ(x, y) = lim ƒ(r cos u, r sin u) = L.
(x, y) S (0,0) rS 0
x 2y 2 tan-1 xy
1 - 6 xy 6 1 For instance,
3
x3 r 3 cos3 u
tell you anything about lim 2 2
= lim = lim r cos3 u = 0.
(x, y) S (0,0) x + y rS0 r2 rS0

tan-1 xy To verify the last of these equalities, we need to show that Equation
lim xy ?
(x, y) S (0,0) (1) is satisfied with ƒ(r, u) = r cos3 u and L = 0. That is, we need to
show that given any P 7 0, there exists a d 7 0 such that for all r
Give reasons for your answer. and u,
56. Does knowing that
0r0 6 d 1 0 r cos3 u - 0 0 6 P.
x2y2 Since
2 0 xy 0 - 6 4 - 4 cos 2 0 xy 0 6 2 0 xy 0
0 r cos3 u 0 = 0 r 0 0 cos3 u 0 … 0 r 0 # 1 = 0 r 0 ,
6

tell you anything about the implication holds for all r and u if we take d = P.
In contrast,
4 - 4 cos 2 0 xy 0
lim ?
(x, y) S (0,0) 0 xy 0 x2 r 2 cos2 u
2 2
= = cos2 u
x + y r2
Give reasons for your answer.
takes on all values from 0 to 1 regardless of how small 0 r 0 is, so that
57. Does knowing that 0 sin (1>x) 0 … 1 tell you anything about
lim(x, y) S (0,0) x2 > ( x2 + y2 ) does not exist.
1 In each of these instances, the existence or nonexistence of the
lim y sin x ? limit as r S 0 is fairly clear. Shifting to polar coordinates does not
(x, y) S (0,0)
always help, however, and may even tempt us to false conclusions.
Give reasons for your answer. For example, the limit may exist along every straight line (or ray)
58. Does knowing that 0 cos (1>y) 0 … 1 tell you anything about u = constant and yet fail to exist in the broader sense. Example 5
illustrates this point. In polar coordinates, ƒ(x, y) = ( 2x2y ) > ( x4 + y2 )
1 becomes
lim x cos y ?
(x, y) S (0,0)
r cos u sin 2u
ƒ(r cos u, r sin u) =
Give reasons for your answer. r 2 cos4 u + sin2 u

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 812 Chapter 14: Partial Derivatives

for r ≠ 0. If we hold u constant and let r S 0, the limit is 0. On the Using the Limit Definition
path y = x2, however, we have r sin u = r 2 cos2 u and Each of Exercises 69–74 gives a function ƒ(x, y) and a positive number P.
In each exercise, show that there exists a d 7 0 such that for all (x, y),
r cos u sin 2u
ƒ(r cos u, r sin u) = 2x2 + y2 6 d 1 0 ƒ(x, y) - ƒ(0, 0) 0 6 P.
r 2 cos4 u + (r cos2 u)2
2 2
69. ƒ(x, y) = x + y , P = 0.01
2r cos2 u sin u r sin u
= = 2 = 1. 70. ƒ(x, y) = y> ( x2 + 1 ) , P = 0.05
2r 2 cos4 u r cos2 u
71. ƒ(x, y) = (x + y)> ( x2 + 1 ) , P = 0.01
In Exercises 61–66, find the limit of ƒ as (x, y) S (0, 0) or show that 72. ƒ(x, y) = (x + y)>(2 + cos x), P = 0.02
the limit does not exist.
xy2
x3 - xy2 x 3 - y3 73. ƒ(x, y) = and ƒ(0, 0) = 0, P = 0.04
6 1. ƒ(x, y) = 2 ƒ(x, y) = cos a 2
62. b x + y2
2
2
x + y x + y2
x 3 + y4
2
74. ƒ(x, y) = and ƒ(0, 0) = 0, P = 0.02
y 2x x 2 + y2
63. ƒ(x, y) = ƒ(x, y) = 2
64.
x 2 + y2 x + x + y2
Each of Exercises 75–78 gives a function ƒ(x, y, z) and a positive
0x0 + 0y0 number P. In each exercise, show that there exists a d 7 0 such that
65. ƒ(x, y) = tan-1 a b for all (x, y, z),
x 2 + y2
2x 2 + y 2 + z 2 6 d 1 0 ƒ(x, y, z) - ƒ(0, 0, 0) 0 6 P.
x 2 - y2
6 6. ƒ(x, y) = 2 75. ƒ(x, y, z) = x2 + y2 + z2, P = 0.015
x + y2
76. ƒ(x, y, z) = xyz, P = 0.008
In Exercises 67 and 68, define ƒ(0, 0) in a way that extends ƒ to be x + y + z
continuous at the origin. 77. ƒ(x, y, z) = 2 , P = 0.015
x + y2 + z2 + 1
3x2 - x2y2 + 3y2
67. ƒ(x, y) = ln a b 78. ƒ(x, y, z) = tan2 x + tan2 y + tan2 z, P = 0.03
x 2 + y2
79. Show that ƒ(x, y, z) = x + y - z is continuous at every point
3x2y (x0 , y0 , z0).
6 8. ƒ(x, y) = 2
x + y2 80. Show that ƒ(x, y, z) = x2 + y2 + z2 is continuous at the origin.

14.3  Partial Derivatives

The calculus of several variables is similar to single-variable calculus applied to several
variables one at a time. When we hold all but one of the independent variables of a func-
tion constant and differentiate with respect to that one variable, we get a “partial” deriva-
tive. This section shows how partial derivatives are defined and interpreted geometrically,
and how to calculate them by applying the rules for differentiating functions of a single
variable. The idea of differentiability for functions of several variables requires more than
the existence of the partial derivatives because a point can be approached from so many
different directions. However, we will see that differentiable functions of several variables
behave in the same way as differentiable single-variable functions, so they are continuous
and can be well approximated by linear functions.

Partial Derivatives of a Function of Two Variables

If (x0, y0) is a point in the domain of a function ƒ(x, y), the vertical plane y = y0 will cut
the surface z = ƒ(x, y) in the curve z = ƒ(x, y0) (Figure 14.16). This curve is the graph of the
function z = ƒ(x, y0) in the plane y = y0 . The horizontal coordinate in this plane is x; the
vertical coordinate is z. The y-value is held constant at y0 , so y is not a variable.
We define the partial derivative of ƒ with respect to x at the point (x0 , y0) as the ordi-
nary derivative of ƒ(x, y0) with respect to x at the point x = x0 . To distinguish partial
derivatives from ordinary derivatives we use the symbol 0 rather than the d previously
used. In the definition, h represents a real number, positive or negative.

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